Strainers are another hazard that we as swiftwater responders have to deal with. Free-flowing and dam-controlled rivers alike share this obstacle, and in flood areas, strainers are predominant. Like entrapments, strainers pose significant risk to us and our crew. When developing a rescue plan for a strainer, here are a  few guidelines to consider:  ...

  I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. As I've said before, the opportunity we have at Sierra Rescue to work in Yosemite National Park is amazing, and it is one of my favorite places to teach. This post gives a shout out to our SRT-1 / SRT-A students from this past spring. We set...

SRT-1 / River Rescue  SRT-Advanced 4.20.2012-4.25.2012 We just finished up and awesome set of courses in Yosemite National Park. As  I have said before the Merced through the Park is my favorite place to teach in the Spring time. Yosemite's many waterfalls were pumping into  the valley and the weather was amazing all week. The...

  Here at Sierra Rescue, we teach a variety of classes in a wide range of drainages and valleys. One of the more stunning backdrops for a swiftwater rescue class, and my favorite place to don my dry suit, is the Yosemite Valley.       Thanks to Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) we have...

[caption id="attachment_691" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Over look of Yosemite Valley"][/caption] Zach Byars, Texas native turned western river adventurer has been teaching Swiftwater Rescue with Sierra Rescue for four years. Owing his affinity for whitewater to his parents, who worked as commercial raft guides for ARTA in the 70’s,  Zach jumped into swiftwater early in his life....